Garments for dialysis patients

ABSTRACT

A garment for covering the upper body of a patient undergoing dialysis to keep the patient warm and comfortable during dialysis comprising a jacket made from a warm and soft material for covering the arms and torso of a patient, the jacket having a torso member for covering the torso of the patient, a right sleeve and a left sleeve covering the arms of the patient, at least one of the sleeves having an elongated opening on the inside thereof extending from the torso member to the distal end of the sleeve for providing access to grafts or fistulas on the arm of the patient that may e connected to a dialysis machine and for providing a site for an injection or infusion by a hypodermic needle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to garments worn by patients undergoingmedical treatment to keep the patient warm and comfortable duringtreatment. In particular, the present invention is related to garmentshaving access sites for dialysis treatments or infusions.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many patients presently receive hemodialysis, referred to herein asdialysis, for the treatment of kidney dysfunction and failure. A greatnumber of the patients undergoing dialysis are elderly and suffer frompoor blood circulation. Such elderly patients commonly must be coveredwith blankets to keep the patients warm and comfortable during dialysissince common coats and jackets must be removed during treatment toenable access to the arms of the user for connection of tubes used indialysis.

Typically, a person undergoing dialysis must wear a short sleeve shirtto provide access to the arms for connection of tubes used in dialysis.The patient normally sits in a reclining chair which may be cool in airconditioned treatment facilities and can cause the patient to becomeuncomfortably and distressfully chilled.

Typical rules for patients undergoing dialysis require that the patientkeep the access area, which is normally the inside of one arm, uncoveredat all times during treatment so that the attendant monitoring thepatient can always see that needles are secure, bloodlines areconnected, and that no blood is lost. The patient is instructed to staywarm by wearing clothes that can easily expose their access site, tocover with a blanket, wear gloves, and wear a hat.

Exemplary of the Patents of the related art are the following U.S. Pat.Nos.: 2,374,643; 4,977,622; 5,084,914; 5,097,535; 6,148,444; and U.S.D457,290; and U.S. Patent Application Publications: U.S. 2003/0126668and U.S. 2004/0010837.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a garmentwhich may be worn by a patient undergoing dialysis to keep the upperbody and arms of the patient warm during treatment. However, garments ofthe prior art which cover the torso and arms do not permit access to theportion of the arm above the elbow.

The invention provides a garment for covering the upper body of apatient undergoing dialysis to keep the patient warm and comfortableduring dialysis comprising a jacket made from a warm and soft materialfor covering the arms and torso of a patient, the jacket having a torsomember for covering the torso of the patient, a right sleeve and a leftsleeve covering the arms of the patient, at least one of the sleeveshaving an elongated opening on the inside thereof extending from thetorso member to the distal end of the sleeve for providing access tografts or fistulas on the arm of the patient that may be connected to adialysis machine and for providing a site for an injection or infusionby a hypodermic needle from the wrist to the area above the elbow to theshoulder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the garment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of the garmentof the invention.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a third embodiment of the garmentof the invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the garment of FIG. 1 of the invention beingworn by a patient.

FIG. 5 is a partly cut-away front view of one sleeve of an alternateembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a partly cut-away front view of one sleeve of an alternateembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 4, thegarment of the first embodiment of the invention is generally indicatedby the numeral 10. Garment 10 is a jacket which covers the upper body ofa patient wearing the garment. Garment 10 is constructed from a warm,soft material such as a woven cotton material or jersey.

Garment 10 includes a torso member generally indicated by the numeral12. Connected at the upper portion or shoulder portion of torso member12 are a right sleeve generally indicated by the numeral 14 and a leftsleeve generally indicated by the numeral 16. A hood generally indicatedby the numeral 18 for covering the head of the patient is connected atthe top center of torso member 12.

Each of the sleeves 14 and 16 have elongated openings 14 a and 16 a onthe inside or torso side of sleeves 14 and 16 for providing access tothe grafts or fistulas on the arm of the patient that may be connectedto a dialysis machine, or for providing a site for an injection orinfusion by a hypodermic needle. Torso member 12 has a short verticalopening 12 a terminating at the upper end at hood 18 on the frontportion of torso member 12 for providing access to grafts or fistulas onthe chest or neck of the patient that may be connected to a dialysismachine, or for providing a site for an injection or infusion by ahypodermic needle. Opening 12 a is preferably opened and closed by azipper 12 b.

It is important that the openings 14 a and 16 a extend from the torsomember 12 completely to the distal end of each sleeve 14 and 16 toenable each sleeve 14 and 16 to rolled upward as shown in FIG. 4 toprovide access to the grafts or fistulas on the arm of the patient thatmay be connected to the dialysis machine, or to the flesh of the arm forinjection or infusion from the wrist to the area above the elbow to theshoulder. The invention enables a person undergoing dialysis to receivean injection above the elbow if necessary, such as could happen when apatient suffers a medical emergency during dialysis. Each of theelongated openings 14 a and 16 a have cooperating closure members madefrom hook and loop material 20 and 21.

In FIG. 2 is shown a second embodiment of the garment of the inventiongenerally indicated by the numeral 24. Garment 24 is a jacket whichcovers the upper body of a patient wearing the garment. Garment 24 isconstructed from a warm, soft material such as a woven cotton materialor jersey.

Garment 24 includes a torso member generally indicated by the numeral12. Connected at the upper portion or shoulder portion of torso member12 are a right sleeve generally indicated by the numeral 14 and a leftsleeve generally indicated by the numeral 16. A crew neck openinggenerally indicated by the numeral 26 for receiving the head of thepatient and covering the neck of the patient is connected at the topcenter of torso member 12.

Each of the sleeves 14 and 16 of garment 24 have elongated openings 14 aand 16 a on the inside or torso side of sleeves 14 and 16 for providingaccess to the grafts or fistulas on the arm of the patient that may beconnected to a dialysis machine, or for providing a site for aninjection or infusion by a hypodermic needle.

It is important that the openings 14 a and 16 a extend from the torsomember 12 completely to the distal end of each sleeve 14 and 16 toenable each sleeve 14 and 16 to rolled upward as shown in FIG. 4 toprovide access to the grafts or fistulas on the arm of the patient thatmay be connected to the dialysis machine, or to the flesh of the armfrom the wrist to the area above the elbow to the shoulder for injectionor infusion. The invention enables a person undergoing dialysis toreceive an injection above the elbow if necessary, such as could happenwhen a patient suffers a medical emergency during dialysis. Each of theelongated openings 14 a and 16 a have cooperating closure members madefrom hook and loop material 20 and 21.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the third embodiment of the invention isgenerally indicated by the numeral 28. Garment 28 is a jacket whichcovers the upper body of a patient wearing the garment. Garment 28 isconstructed from a warm, soft material such as a woven cotton materialor jersey.

Garment 28 includes a torso member generally indicated by the numeral12. Connected at the upper portion or shoulder portion of torso member12 are a right sleeve generally indicated by the numeral 14 and a leftsleeve generally indicated by the numeral 16. A neck opening generallyindicated by the numeral 30 for receiving the head of the patient isformed at the top center of torso member 12.

Each of the sleeves 14 and 16 have elongated openings 14 a and 16 a onthe inside or torso side of sleeves 14 and 16 for providing access tothe grafts or fistulas on the arm of the patient that may be connectedto a dialysis machine, or for providing a site for an injection orinfusion by a hypodermic needle. Torso member 12 has a short verticalopening 12 a terminating at the upper end at neck opening 30 on thefront portion of torso member 12 for providing access to the grafts orfistulas of the patient that may be connected to a dialysis machine, orfor providing a site for an injection or infusion by a hypodermicneedle. Opening 12 a is preferably opened and closed by a zipper 38.

It is important that the openings 14 a and 16 a extend from the torsomember 12 completely to the distal end of each sleeve 14 and 16 toenable each sleeve 14 and 16 to rolled upward as shown in FIG. 4 toprovide access to the grafts or fistulas on the arm of the patient thatmay be connected to the dialysis machine, or to the flesh of the armfrom the wrist to the area above the elbow to the shoulder for injectionor infusion. The invention enables a person undergoing dialysis toreceive an injection above the elbow if necessary, such as could happenwhen a patient suffers a medical emergency during dialysis. Each of theelongated openings 14 a and 16 a have cooperating closure members madefrom hook and loop material 20 and 21.

In FIG. 5 of the invention is shown an alternate embodiment of a sleeveof the invention generally indicated by the numeral 32 connected totorso member 12. Sleeve 32 has an elongated opening 32 a on the insideor torso side thereof for providing access to the grafts or fistulas onthe arm of the patient that may be connected to a dialysis machine, orfor providing a site for an injection or infusion by a hypodermicneedle.

It is important that the opening 32 a extends from the torso member 12completely to the distal end of sleeve 32 to enable sleeve 32 to berolled upward as shown in FIG. 4 to provide access to the grafts orfistulas on the arm of the patient that may be connected to the dialysismachine, or to the flesh of the arm from the wrist to the area above theelbow to the shoulder for injection or infusion. The invention enables aperson undergoing dialysis to receive an injection above the elbow ifnecessary, such as could happen when a patient suffers a medicalemergency during dialysis. Elongated opening 32 a has cooperatingclosure members comprising conventional male and female snaps 34 and 35,respectively.

In FIG. 6 of the invention is shown an alternate embodiment of a sleeveof the invention generally indicated by the numeral 36 connected totorso member 12. Sleeve 36 has an elongated opening 36 a on the insideor torso side thereof for providing access to the grafts or fistulas onthe arm of the patient that may be connected to a dialysis machine, orfor providing a site for an injection or infusion by a hypodermicneedle.

It is important that the opening 36 a extends from the torso member 12completely to the distal end of sleeve 36 to enable sleeve 36 to berolled upward as shown in FIG. 4 to provide access to the grafts orfistulas on the arm of the patient that may be connected to the dialysismachine, or to the flesh of the arm for injection or infusion. Theinvention enables a person undergoing dialysis to receive an injectionabove the elbow if necessary, such as could happen when a patientsuffers a medical emergency during dialysis. Elongated opening 36 a hasclosure member comprising the conventional zipper generally indicated bythe numeral 38.

Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedin detail above, it should be understood that the invention is in nosense limited thereby, and its scope is to be determined by that of thefollowing claims:

1. A garment for covering the upper body of a patient undergoingdialysis to keep the patient warm and comfortable during dialysiscomprising a jacket made from a warm and soft material for covering thearms and torso of a patient, the jacket having a torso member forcovering the torso of the patient, a right sleeve and at left sleeveconnected to said torso member for covering the arms of the patient, atleast one of said sleeves having an elongated opening on the insidethereof extending from said torso member to the distal end of saidsleeve for providing access to grafts or fistulas on the arm of thepatient that may be connected to a dialysis machine and to a site for aninjection or infusion by a hypodermic needle from the wrist to the areaabove the elbow to the shoulder.
 2. The garment of claim 1 wherein ahood for covering the head of said patient is connected thereto.
 3. Thegarment of claim 1 wherein said torso member has a vertical openingterminating at the upper end of said torso member on the front portionof said torso member for providing access to grafts or fistulas on thechest or neck of said patient that may be connected to a dialysismachine and for providing a site for an injection or infusion of saidpatient by a hypodermic needle.